Kim Jong-un departed from Beijing to return to his country on the evening of the 4th. (Video screenshot)
[People News] According to CCP state media, on the afternoon of October 9, local time, Chinese Premier and Politburo Standing Committee member Li Qiang met with North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang.
Aside from conveying Xi Jinping’s greetings, Li stated that “China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication with the DPRK, deepen practical cooperation, enhance coordination in international and regional affairs, and expand multilateral collaboration.” Kim, after praising Xi, declared that “no matter how the international situation changes, consolidating and developing DPRK–China friendship and cooperation is the firm and unchanging position of the DPRK Party and government, as it serves the common interests of both sides.” He also said that “the DPRK is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote cooperation in various fields, and strengthen multilateral coordination.”
The CCP report further claimed that “the DPRK firmly supports the One-China principle, resolutely opposes ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist acts and any external interference, and supports China’s positions on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet.”
However, in the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report, although it mentioned that Li Qiang’s visit “demonstrated China’s unwavering support and special friendship toward the DPRK government and people,” and said that both sides discussed issues such as expanding and strengthening high-level exchanges, strategic communication, and multifaceted cooperation, as well as China’s willingness to further develop cooperation with North Korea — there was no mention of the One-China principle, opposition to Taiwan independence, or any related statements. Clearly, those were “extra ingredients” added by the Chinese side.
An interesting detail lies in the photos released by the two sides. Xinhua News Agency published an image showing Li Qiang and Kim Jong-un standing side by side, with Li seemingly extending his right hand while Kim gestures with his left as if saying “please” — apparently a shot captured as the meeting was ending.
KCNA, however, released a different photo showing the meeting scene itself: on one side of the oval table sat Kim Jong-un and an interpreter, while on the opposite side sat Li Qiang with a delegation of eleven senior Chinese officials. Visually, it gives an unbalanced impression — as if Li and his delegation were reporting to Kim Jong-un.
This arrangement is not new. In April 2024, when Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, led a delegation to North Korea, and earlier in 2018, when Li Hongzhong, NPC Vice Chairman, and Li Zhanshu, then NPC Chairman, visited Pyongyang, similar setups were used during their meetings with Kim.
Likewise, when Russian Defence Minister Shoigu and Foreign Minister Lavrov met Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, the same format was observed.
Some analysts have suggested that such arrangements resemble subordinates reporting to a superior — a humiliation to Chinese officials. But that likely isn’t the case; rather, apart from his meetings with Putin and Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un seems to follow this same protocol when meeting other senior officials from China and Russia. It serves to highlight his own “supreme leader” status and bolster domestic propaganda.
Even though Kim probably did not intend to humiliate Chinese officials, if KCNA’s photo were published by Chinese media, it would surely ignite heated discussion among netizens. That explains why Xinhua chose a different photo — one that at least visually presents Li and Kim as equals. Still, this superficial warmth cannot conceal the underlying calculations on both sides.
(First published by People News)
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